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PJS article about who are the likely starters

"Well, nothing is set at this stage, but we're certainly making progress and I have a pretty good idea,"
Bradley coach Brian Wardle said in late August. "If we had to play tomorrow, Duke Deen, Connor Hickman,
Malevy Leons and Darius Hannah would be four of those starters. The roles, a rotation, that will need time to sort out."​

"Atlason looks dazzling, as seen in some of his international play. Burch is an explosive scorer."
"Christian Davis (a wing who flashed last season when pressed into minutes as the Braves fought injuries
early in the season) and Meta Jonovic (7-foot-1 center who joined the season late) really got better.
That's what we want. The newcomers, I think they learned a lot. A week-by-week improvement.

"I think Emarion Ellis made a big jump. He's long and can defend and knows how to get to the paint.
Kyle Thomas came a long way, showed he can shoot the 3 and pass the ball."
​
 
Nothing really surprising here, I think we all expected those guys to start this year. There a really solid core here, but if we are going to win the conference again some of the newcomers are going to have to step up and be major contributors.

I do think Ellis will be the other starter as well, I think he has the biggest potential of all the new guys.

Probably will rotate in Burch/Pettigrew at guard, and some combo of Davis/Atlason/Thomas at forward. I'm not really sure where Jonovic fits it, hopefully he has gotten acclimated to the team with the offseason.
 
A few new practice photos-
https://twitter.com/BradleyUMBB/status/1701665088867119300

The Dave Eminian article projecting the starting lineup has been picked up by Yahoo News, and that site is free to read-
https://sports.yahoo.com/four-players-projected-start-bradley-092920611.html

"Well, nothing is set at this stage, but we're certainly making progress and I have a pretty good idea," Bradley coach Brian Wardle said in late August. "If we had to play tomorrow, Duke Deen, Connor Hickman, Malevy Leons and Darius Hannah would be four of those starters. The roles, a rotation, that will need time to sort out."
"Our veterans got better," Wardle said. "Christian Davis (a wing who flashed last season when pressed into minutes as the Braves fought injuries early in the season) and Meta Jonovic (7-foot-1 center who joined the season late) really got better. That's what we want. The newcomers, I think they learned a lot. A week-by-week improvement.

"I think Emarion Ellis made a big jump. He's long and can defend and knows how to get to the paint. Kyle Thomas came a long way, showed he can shoot the 3 and pass the ball."
​​​
 
I, for one, like the way the PJS has written Bradley basketball articles this summer. It helps fill in the summer and gives us something to talk about. Hope it keeps the articles coming.
 
LongTimeFan said:
I, for one, like the way the PJS has written Bradley basketball articles this summer. It helps fill in the summer and gives us something to talk about. Hope it keeps the articles coming.
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Totally agree....Dave Eminem has brought life back to the pjs covering the Braves....really enjoy his articles....
 
He’s been a fantastic beat writer for the Rivermen for a long, long time. His talents went under the radar because the Rivermen aren’t followed as passionately as Bradley. Used to do the IHL column in the Hockey News back in the day. He’s really covering everything now, it’s crazy. BU, Rivs, Chiefs.
 
The Old Guy said:
Any news on the spaghetti super at the ITool Club so we can meet the new players?
Click to expand...

Per Bradley Athletics:
https://bradleybraves.com/news/2023/8/24/general-bradley-athletics-announces-spaghetti-supper.aspx
Tuesday, October 10, 2023- The annual Bradley Basketball Spaghetti Supper, presented by Avanti's, will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at the Itoo Hall. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. before dinner is served at 6 o'clock. The Voice of the Braves, Dave Snell, will lead a short program at 7:00 p.m., featuring Brian Wardle and the men's basketball program plus Kate Popovec-Goss and the women's basketball program. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the link below.​

Schedule-
Sept. 25 (Mon)- First day of official practice
Oct. 10 (Tues)- Itoo Hall Spaghetti Supper
Oct. 17 (Tues)- MVC Men's Basketball Media Day (Enterprise Center, St. Louis)
Oct. 21 (Sat)- Red-White Showcase 10:30am in Renaissance Coliseum
Oct. 28 (Sat)- 2023 Braves Club Bids for the Braves auction at the Renaissance Coliseum
Nov. 1 (Wed)- Exhibition game vs. St. Ambrose- Carver Arena
Nov. 6 (Mon)- at UAB 7:00pm
Nov. 11 (Sat)- Home vs. Utah State 7:00pm
Nov. 14 (Tues)- Home vs. Tarleton State 7:00pm (SoCal Challenge campus game)
Nov. 20 (Mon)- vs. Tulane in San Juan Capistrano (SoCal Challenge) - according to Bradley schedule
Nov. 22 (Wed)- vs. Cal or UTEP in San Juan Capistrano (SoCal Challenge)- according to Bradley schedule
Nov. 25. (Sat)- Home vs. Vermont 7:00pm

First 2 MVC games

Dec. 5 (Tues)- at Akron
Dec. 15 (Fri)- Home vs Cleveland State 7:00pm
Dec. 18 Mon)- vs. Duquesne at St. Vincent-St. Mary HS in Akron, Ohio
Dec. 21 (Thurs)- Home vs. SIUE 7:00pm
Dec. 28 (Thurs)- Home vs. Truman State 7:00pm

And the remainder of the 20-game MVC schedule​ (pending)

There will probably also be a preseason closed scrimmage, possibly in late October​
 
BUfan17 said:
Nothing really surprising here, I think we all expected those guys to start this year. There a really solid core here, but if we are going to win the conference again some of the newcomers are going to have to step up and be major contributors.

I do think Ellis will be the other starter as well, I think he has the biggest potential of all the new guys.

Probably will rotate in Burch/Pettigrew at guard, and some combo of Davis/Atlason/Thomas at forward. I'm not really sure where Jonovic fits it, hopefully he has gotten acclimated to the team with the offseason.
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Ya the forward/center rotation will be fascinating to watch, and is probably the most interesting positions battle. Only having 5 true guards (which I still think is a roster mistake, especially with injuries), they all seem like they will have to play. Davis I assume will also get some time at the three, but I didn't like Leons there last year (I know he got more athletic but still). So you have 6 guys for three spots (Can Atlason play the three?).

At the 4 and 5 spot - Leons, Hannah, Meta, Thomas, Atlason, Biliew, Linke all fighting for minutes. I know some people say Biliew got better, but Brian didn't mention him and I think even with improvement it'd be hard to leap frog all of those people for time. So let's assume Linke and Biliew are out. Still have 5 people for 2 spots. Maybe that works early in the year, but one of them will have to fall off, or there will be injuries, by conference season. I can't see more than 9 playing, maybe 10 in the conference rotation. Leons and Hannah are locks, and it seems Thomas will get some time judging on the comments. It may come down to Meta vs Atlason. It will be fascinating to see how these three (Thomas, Meta, Atlason) work out.
 
BUfan14 said:
Ya the forward/center rotation will be fascinating to watch, and is probably the most interesting positions battle. Only having 5 true guards (which I still think is a roster mistake, especially with injuries), they all seem like they will have to play. Davis I assume will also get some time at the three, but I didn't like Leons there last year (I know he got more athletic but still). So you have 6 guys for three spots (Can Atlason play the three?).

At the 4 and 5 spot - Leons, Hannah, Meta, Thomas, Atlason, Biliew, Linke all fighting for minutes. I know some people say Biliew got better, but Brian didn't mention him and I think even with improvement it'd be hard to leap frog all of those people for time. So let's assume Linke and Biliew are out. Still have 5 people for 2 spots. Maybe that works early in the year, but one of them will have to fall off, or there will be injuries, by conference season. I can't see more than 9 playing, maybe 10 in the conference rotation. Leons and Hannah are locks, and it seems Thomas will get some time judging on the comments. It may come down to Meta vs Atlason. It will be fascinating to see how these three (Thomas, Meta, Atlason) work out.
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Atlason is more of a guard then a4 or 5. Competition is great and makes everybody better and ready to play opponents. Thomas probably plays the 4 more then the 5 on offense. Things work themselves out because of injury unfortunately. It is a long season so having more players that are capable of producing is important. I am ready for the season to start.
 
tomahawk chop said:
Atlason is more of a guard then a4 or 5. Competition is great and makes everybody better and ready to play opponents. Thomas probably plays the 4 more then the 5 on offense. Things work themselves out because of injury unfortunately. It is a long season so having more players that are capable of producing is important. I am ready for the season to start.
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From what I saw in his play this summer playing for the Iceland team I think Atlason is more of a 3 than 4 or 5. However in time I do think he will be able to move down low. Kind of reminds me of Rienk when he first came to Bradley his Freshman year
 
Atlason will probably play some at the 3 position, especially if he can prove his ability to make shots outside, but the coaches see him more as a "stretch 4".
 
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